Center sill



CENTER SILL Filed Aug. 1 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 wmw A TTORNEY Jan. 25, WEIGHTMAN 2,339,826

CENTER SILL Filed Aug. 1, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 William .fl. Wz'ghiman BY WAD 7 ATTORNEY INVENT'OR W. A. WEIGHTMAN CENTER SILL Jan. 25, 1944.

Filed Aug. 1', 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR iizllzam fl. Wezghiman/ BY W ATTORNEY Jan. 25,1944. w A, WEIGHTMAN' 2,339,826-

CENTER SILL Filed Aug. 1 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR fhQTw ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1944.

W. A. WEIGHTMAN CENTER SILL Filed Aug. 1, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1944.

w. A. WEIGHTMAN CENTER SILL Filed Aug. 1, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 274 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 25, 1944..

w. A. WEIGHTMAN CENTER SILL Filed Aug'. 1, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 r INVENTORV WlZZzam/fl 7%: 722mm ATTORNEY ll ml Patented Jan. 25, 1944 CENTER SILL William A. Weightman, Philadelphia,'l.a., assign.- or to- Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa'., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 1, 1940,.Se'ria'l'N0.-349,308'

16 Claims.

This invention relates to welding apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for effecting a plurality ofspot welds: along: the length of a beam or like member having substantially uniform crosssection throughout its length.

In the'fabrication ofbeams from strip stock rolled into various channel shapes, for example, it is important thatthe various component parts of the beam be secured together in proper and uniform manner at uniformlyspaced pointsalong' th length in order that the beam may have the resultant strength contemplated at all points. The present invention relates to an apparatus adapted to secure together thecomponent parts of a beamstructure as by spot welding the parts at uniformly spaced intervals. An application of the machine has'been made'ior the assembly of a plurality of channel members, rolledfrom fiat strip stock, into a center-sill adapted for use in railway cars. The particular sill construction for which the machine herein disclosed has been adapted forms the subject matter of application Serial No. 296,026, filed September 22, 1939.

An object of theinvention is to provide a machine for securing together relatively heavy members at uniformly spaced points along the length of the-members.

Another object of. the invention is to provide an apparatus for supporting an elongated beam structure, for supporting a movable carriage for movement along thev length of the beam structure together with apparatus upon the. carriage for performing operations upon the beam structure at uniformly spaced intervals or otherwise at will. 2

A further object of the invention is to provide.

in an apparatus. of the type described, readily operable control means whereby an operator may quickly efiect. certain operations upona beam at.

a particular stage and quickly move on to an adjoining stage for repeated operation.

Still another. objectof the, invention is to pro,- vide an apparatus for effecting a, plurality of spot welds at various stages along the length of a substantially uniform cross section beam and in which a distributor is employed in the Welding circuits whereby a single transformer may successively supply energy to the various points to. bewelded at each stage.

.Yetv another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid pressure operated distributing switch'for a plurality of welding guns and in which substantially uniform distribution of current through-the'swit'ch and to the various guns may beefrected;

A further object of the invention is toprovide a welding gun: structure particularly of great rigidity andadapted to effect heavy welds together with a floating mounting for the same.

The above and other novelfeaturesof theinvention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not'designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this'purpose to the appended claims.

Referringto the drawings-in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout,

. Figure 1 is-a side elevation of an extensive portion of the apparatus illustrating the features of the work support and track and a welding carriage traversable thereon.

Figure 2is an enlarged. top plan-view ofthe carriage shown in 1 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the welding carriage.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken adjacent one end of the carriage substantially-on the line 4--4' of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the left-hand end of. the carriage-as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and'S, the track, work support and work being indicated in section.

Figure G is an enlarged'side elevation of a pair.

of vertical welding guns illustrated in Figure 3, one" being illustratedin section along itsvertical axis.

Figure" '7 is an.end elevation of a work holding clamp taken substantially on the line 1--1 of Figure 2.

Figures is. a side elevation ofthe work holding clamp 01": Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary end elevation of. the work supportof Figure 7:,as modified for one particular operation inconjunction with the particular beam disclosed.

Figure 10. is aside elevationof a: detail of Figure 9.

Figure 11. is alongitudinal section through one of. the. welding guns illustrated in Figure 6, the section being. taken axially. through the cylinder and at right angles to the plane of the support of the gun.

Figure 12 is an enlarged: side elevation" partially in longitudinal section through one of the acutely arranged welding guns illustrated on the lefthand end of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the gun of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a side elevation partly in section of a welding gun adapted to perform one of the operations, the same being located upon the lefthand end of the machine as is indicated partly in Figures 1 and 3.

Figure 15 is a detailed view partly in elevation and partly in section of the distributor switch operating mechanism.

Figure 16 is a section through the distributorswitch of Figure 15 taken substantially on the line Iii-I6 thereof.

Figure 1'7 is a section taken substantially on the line |lil of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a section through the bus bars taken substantially on the line lt-lt of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a section through a part of the bus bars taken substantially on the line l9l9 of Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a section taken substantially on the line 20-20 of Figure 18 and illustrating a detail of the bus bars.

Figure 21 is a section taken on the line 2l-2l of Figure 16 illustrating a detail of the distributor switch.

Figure 22 is a section through the distributor switch of Figure 16 taken substantially on the line 22-22 thereof, and

Figure 23 is a section taken on the line 23-23 of Figure 22 showing the details of the distributor switch connecting block and its support.

Referring to Figure 1 and also Figure 2 where.- in the general arrangement of the apparatus is shown, there will appear a track 38 having a carriage32 thereon adapted to operate upon a work-piece 34 such as an extended column or beam, the latter being supported upon the spaced support arms 35 arranged along the length of the track. Taking into consideration the particular beam to be operated upon as illustrated in conjunction with Figure 4 or Figures 7 and 9 and others, it will appear that the various component parts of the beam are to be secured together at certain points and preferably at uniformly spaced intervals along their length. For example, the center sill or column structure illustrated is composed of top and bottom members 38 and 40 which have been channeled in the manner illustrated by drawing through a suitable draw bench. The top and bottom members 3t and 423 are centrally reinforced by inner reinforcing channel members 42 and 44. Initially before the final assembly of the various component parts ofthe sill, the reinforcing members 42 and 44 are secured to the top and bottom members 38 and 40 in two separate operations involving the effecting of a plurality of welds at the points 46, 48 and to as indicated, the welds being adapted to secure the adjacent channel faces of the reinforcing members 42 and 44 to the respective faces of the adjacent top and bottom channel members 38 and 40. Side members 52 and 54 also of channel cross section are in a later stage assembled together with top and bottom membersand secured through welds located at 56, 58, 6D and 62, the welds securing the side members 52 and 54 to the top and bottom members 33 and 40 along the portions of one another that are in face to face or lap contact. In a center sill for railway use, for example, the particular channel members referred to may be rolled fr om as heavy strip stock as quarter-inch high tensile stainless steel and the individual welds securing two such members together are, therefore, effected through a pair of channel members, the total thickness 5 of which may be as great as a half-inch. Thus such spot Welds are of unusual size.

Referring again to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that the carriage 32 is provided with a welding gun 230 adapted to effect welds at the point 46, in an initial assembly step as is suggested in Figure 9. During this same initial assembly step welds 48 and 59 may be effected through the operation of the inclined welding guns 240 and 242, and subsequently the complete assembly, composed of top and bottom channel members 38 and 40 with their reinforcing channel members 42 and 44, may be assembled with the side channel members 52 and 54 and the welds 56, 5B, 60 and 62 effected through the 20 four welding guns 96, A, D, C, B, respectively, at

spaced points along the beam.

In order to support the carriage 32 and the beam 34 in operative relation with respect to one another, the carriage 32 is adapted to roll upon rails 64 carried upon transverse ties 66 thus forming the track generall indicated by the reference numeral in Figure 1. Upon the cross ties 66 and centrally with respect thereto are positioned a pair of longitudinally extending 30 spaced I-beams 68 which in turn at spaced intervals support the work support arms 36, further details of which will be described hereinafter.

The carriage 32 as illustrated in Figure 4 is enerally constructed of spaced side frames 'l0 and 12 connected together across the top thereof by a bridge or top framework member 14. Each side frame is composed of a lower sill l6 and one or more spaced uprights such as 18 spaced along the length thereof at convenient points. The sill H3 is provided with flanged wheels 80 which in turn roll upon the track 30 and are adapted to maintain the carriage aligned along the track with respect to the beam 34 5 throughout its operations thereupon as it traverses the beam 34 and track from one end to the other.

To move the carriage along the track there is provided a rack 82 adjacent to one rail of, and parallel with the track which is in turn adapted to be engaged by a pinion 84 carried upon a vertical shaft 86 journaled in a bracket 69 and the sill 16 of the carriage. Geared to shaft 86, as at H, is a second shaft 9! journaled in the side frame. A convenient hand crank 88 at the side of the frame, and carried on a shaft 90, is adapted to drive the shaft 95 through intermeshing bevel gears 92 and 93 located on shafts 96 and SI, and hence move the carriage 32 along the track. Associated with the crank 88 is a stationary indexing plate 94 so that measured movements of the carriage may be effected. Thus, there is provided a carriage of generally inverted U section adapted to bridge over the work and form a support for welding guns, positioned for operation on the work, and which carriage is readily movable along the work.

To effect the vertical welds 55, 56,65 and 62 between the channel members 38 and 4t and 52 and 54 of the center sill, the welding guns 96 are positioned on the inside of the side members '10 and 12 of the carriage. Such welding guns are supported from the side members at the top and bottom through identical top and bottom castings BBandIOO, As is illustrated, for exampl inFiz:

assegseea ure .6, two welding guns: are supported-upon' each" side of the. carriage, one gun Azbeing-adapted' to efiect welds .as indicated at" 56 and the other,

D, beingadapted toeffect welds as indicated'at- 58. Each of the guns is identical but the gun for effecting the-welds 56 is inverted-with respect'to' In order to effect the heavywelds contemplated it is necessary to apply heavy pressures. to: the welding electrodes and since the weldingelectrodesmust overhang toa. considerable extent to reach into the contour of the channel membersv of the beam to be welded, provision mustbe made to mechanically resist such torsion and. othereccentric stresseswhich would be set upv in each welding. gun. Accordingly, as will be seen in Figure 6, each welding gun is carried upon a pair of' spaced heavy guide rods I02 extending between the cast end supports 93 and IBEJ. IAS is shown in section in Figure 6 the lower cast end'piece IilOis provided with a cylinder bore I04 integral therein (see Figs. 6 and 11) and having an axis lying in substantially the same plane as that common to the axes of the rods IE2. Slidably arranged upon the rods WE are welding electrode carrier guide blocks IE6 and Iilii, the former being provided with a piston rod I It! extending through the latter into the cylinder Ilia wherein it is provided with a piston I I2. The other block m8 through which he piston rod IIII passes isprovided with an integral extension portion I14 forming a piston head likewise reciprocating within. the cylinder Hi l.

The electrode carrying blocks I836 and I08 (see Figure 11) are provided with electrode carrying brackets I I and IIB secured to the blocks through bolts E29, there being provided layers of insulation I22 and I2 3 between the brackets and bolts and their respective blocks. The bracket I I6 is provided with a goose neck at the end thereof to support a welding electrode tip I26 in such. a way as not to interfere with the flange I27 of the channel member 54. The lower electrode bracket is provided with an opposed electrode tip I28; the electrode tips I26 and I28 being adapted to engage the channel members 54 and 38 to effect a weld at the point 62'. (See Fig. 11.)

It will be seen that the electrode carrying blocks I06 and H18 are both 'slidable upon the rods I02 and carry the piston head I I4 and the piston I [2 within the cylinder bore I04. Thus, upon an introduction of fluid pressure within the cylinder bore Ida and between the piston H2 and piston head lit, the blocks Hit" and Iiiil'will be moved toward one another thereby engaging the welding tips I26" and IZSwith the work. To assure positive separation of the welding electrodes after release of fluid pressure from the cylinder IIM, coil springs Hid coaxially arranged upon the rods Hi2 andbetween the slidable blocks Hi6 andIIiS" which are adapted to-cause the blocks to separate are provided. In order'to restrict the extent of the separation of the welding electrodesupon the completion of a weld and so as to prevent the electrode tips from separating sufficiently to come in contact with the adjacent side walls or flanges, for example the flange I21 of the channel 'memberii i (seeFig. 11), a shoulder I32 concentric around the piston Il l isadapted to engage the end of the cylinder bore IMas at I34, through one or more adjustment collars I36. The adjustment vcollarsare removable since each collar is composedofv two substantiallysemi-circular parts downward (see Fig. 6)" or upward'isee-Fig; 1 1) movement of the block lot and'itselectrode is adjustably limited. Movement of the block'IIiB as a resultoi the pressure of thesprings I30 is limited by the adjustable threaded collars Hill arranged upon the extension of the end of the piston rod I III, the collars being adapted to abut a bellshaped end enclosure I42 of the cylinder I04. It will readily appear that the collars I36 and I40 are effective to limit the separation of the weld- I ing electrodes regardless of whether the welding gun be positioned asiillustrated in the right-hand portion of Figure 6, or inverted as in the. lefthand portion of Figure 6, or, for examplaas'illustrated in Figure 11.

Engagement of the welding electrodes with the work is accomplished by introducing vfluid-under pressure to the space between the. pistons H2 and IM through the bore HM extending through the center of the piston rod IIB, which bore terminates in a transverse aperture me leading into the space between the pistons. Thus, by introducing fluid under pressure through the hollow piston rod, the piston and piston head may be forced to spread thereby causing the welding electrodes to engage the-work under pressure.

So far, the description of the guns 66 applies to any one of the four guns in the same manner but for clarity, the separate guns will now be designated by the characters 9th, B, iii-3C and 88D, the respective guns being adapted to eifect the welds 56, 62, 60 and 58.

In the operation of the vertically acting welding guns, means are provided for supplying fluid pressure to all the guns simultaneously and for applying electrical energy to the guns in sequence from a common transformer and through a distributing secondary switch. The secondary distributing switch is located upon the carriage as at M3, the same being located conveniently between the transformer I50 and the welding gmis 96. See Figs. 1 and 3. Referring to Figures 16 through 23, the details and novel features of the distributor switch will appear.

In Fig. 17, the transformer leads 52 and I54 are shown connected to horizontal bus bars I56 and I53 (see also Figs. 3 and 15) and thence are connected to a pair of concentrically disposed semi-circular contact plates H553 and through arms I59 and ItI extending radially from the plates, the arms having an elbow as at ISM (see Fig. 16). Since the general purpose of the switch is to distribute electrical welding energy to any one of the four guns 9% A, B, C or D selectively, or to other welding circuits as will hereinafter appear, the semi-circular plates are surrounded by a number of sector shaped plates, connected to the welding guns, and means are provided for selectively bridging connections'between the central transformer connected semi-circular plates I60 and IE2, and a pair of such. sector shaped plates to complete a. circuit from the transformer to a particular gun. In Fig. 17, the general arrangement ofsuch sector shaped plates Hi l, adjacent the plate I50 is illustrated, as well as the arrangement of the sector plates Hi5 adjacent the semi-circular plate Ifi2. Since the sector plates I64 and IE6 are all identical, they are distinguished from one another by the characters A, B, C and D corresponding to the guns Ft A, B, C and D to which they are connected. In Fig. 16 there will appear the bridging blocks I53 and I10 which are adapted to complete the circuits to thevarious guns 96.

The construction of the switch and thebu's bars connecting the transformer to the various welding guns is such as to minimize inductive reactance and to equalize the impedance to each of the guns. Accordingly, pairs of conductors are arranged in close relationship to one another in order to maintain the reactance as low as possible. Further, the bus bars are so connected as to provide a substantially uniform length of path with uniform characteristics for all welding guns,

The structure of the switch centers about a main support member I72 having a fiat face I73 provided with a layer of insulation I74 and against which the plates I60 and I62 are secured as by bolts I75, the latter being insulated where they pass through the support member I7 2. The sector shaped plates I64 and I66 are arranged around the shoulder I76 formed by the periphery of the semi-circular contact surfaces of the plates I60 and I62, suitable insulation I77 being provided. The sector shaped plates are secured in place by bolts I78 passing through the base portions of the plates I60 and I62 and also the main support member I72, suitable insulation being provided as at I79, where such bolts pass through the support end plates I60 and I62. Additional support to the sector shaped members I64 and I66 is provided for by the insulated bolts I80 passing through the support member I72, a spacer member I8I and the members I64 and I66. As illustrated in Figure 17, two of the members I64 and I66, namely, I641) and I66A, parallel the arms I59 and I6I leading to the transformer and are insulated therefrom as at I82, in Figure 16 each of the arms I64 and I66 having right angle extension portions as at I83 and I84 respectively, the extension portion leading to a peripheral circular set of bus bar connections as indicated in Figures 15 and 17, a further description of which will appear hereinafter in connection with the bus bar connections to the welding guns.

As has been previously stated connections from the plates I60 and I62, which are connected to the terminals of the transformer, to a pair of sector plates I 64 and I66 are effected through bridging connector blocks I68 and I70. The bridging blocks as are illustrated in Figure 16 are pivotally supported as at I85 upon insulated brackets I66 carried by a transverse symmetrical bracket I87, the bracket being keyed upon a splined shaft I88 extending through a central bore in the support member I72. Integral with the shaft I88 and upon the end thereof beyond the bracket I87 is provided a piston I89 reciprocable in a cylinder bore I90 formed in a member I9I supported from the support member I72 through the shouldered studs I92. Fluid pressure admitted to the cylinder bore I90 is adapted to move the piston and bracket I87 carrying the bridging connector blocks I68 and I70 into engagement with the plates I60 and I62 and a pair of the plates I64 and I66 to provide an electrical connection therebetween. Upon release of the fluid pressure within the cylinder bore I90 the bridging blocks I68 and I70 are adapted to be removed from electrical connection with the plates I66, I62, I64 and I66 by reason of a con centric spring I94 arranged about the shaft I88, the spring bearing upon one side of the bracket I87 and a thrust bearing I89 bearing against the support member I72.

To rotate the switch to various angular positions to engage various pairs of sector plates I64 and I66 and in order to insure that the angular position will be such as toprevent the bus bar 2040 and bridging blocks from contacting more than one of the contact plates I64 or more than one of the contact members I66 at a time, a Geneva movement is provided so that the bracket I87 may be positioned in any one of 8 angular positions spaced 45 degrees from each other. To effect movements of the bridging blocks I68 and I to the various angular positions a hand crank I95 iournaled in the support member I72 is provided, the same carrying an eccentric pin I96 acting upon the Geneva gear I97 in the usual manner. The Geneva gear is splined on shaft I88 so that the shaft may reciprocate with respect to the gear when it is desired to engage and disengage the bridging blocks I68 and I70 with the contact plates. The Geneva gear is slotted as at I98 to receive the pin I96 and notched as at I99 to coact with a circular portion 200 upon the crank I95 whereby movement of the Geneva gear is prevented except when the crank is turned sufiiciently to engage the pin I96 and one of the slots I98 and to release the notch I99. To insure that the bridging blocks I68 and I70 are spaced from the contact plates I60, I62, I64 and I66 during the shifting operation a cam 20I is provided on the crank I95, which cam coacts with the fluid pressure valve 202 controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the cylinder :bore I90. Thus, when the crank is in the position shown in Figure 15 locking the Geneva gear in one of eight of the angular rest positions, the valve 202 is shifted to permit the flow of fluid pressure into the cylinder bore I to urge the bridging blocks I68, I70 into engagement with the plates I60 and I62 and the adjacent sector plates I64 and I66 aligned with the bridging blocks. Upon rotating the crank I through a slight angle less than that necessary to shift the annular position of the bracket I87 and the bridging blocks I68 and I70, the cam 26I will permit the valve 202 to shift, to relieve the fluid pressure from the cylinder bore I90, thereby permitting the spring I94 to expand and force the bridging blocks I68 and I70 out of engagement from the contact plates. Thereupon further rotation of the crank I95 will bring the pin I96 into engagement with the Geneva gear I97, rotating the same and shifting the angular position of the switch 45 degrees for each rotation of the crank I95 and upon completion of the rotation of the crank I95 back to the position shown in Figure 15, the cam 20I will again shift the valve 202 to introduce fluid pressure into the cylinder bore and engage the bridging blocks I68 and I70 with the contact plates.

Referring to Figure 17 it will appear thateach of the diametrically opposed contact members, for example, I64A and I66A are provided with circular connecting bus bars 264 and 206, each of which has a combined circular length of half of the circumference of the switch. For example, the bus bar 204A added to the bus bar 206A extends substantially degrees around the switch. Similarly, the circular portion of the 2060 also equals an arcuate path of 180 degrees. Thus the length of the current travel path to the point at which the bus bars 204 and 206 lead away from the switch is the same for all pairs of contacts. The bus bars 204 and 206 as they lead away from the switch are provided with parallel end portions 208A through D and 2IOA through D, which parallel portions are suitably insulated from one another and joined to transversely extending bus bars2I2, and 2I4A through D. Connections to the welding guns 98A through D'are -:completed through bars 2| 6 and 218 and flexible jumpers 220 completing connection to the lugs H6 and H8 of each of the welding guns. Each of the bus bars 296 and M8 has a horizontal portion connecting to the bars 2l2 and2l4 andan intermediate vertical portion and a horizontal portion to which the jumpers 220 are connected.

Through similar sets of bus bars each of the welding guns 98 may be connected to the transformer through the secondary switch by the 'rotation of the crank through a single-revolution, each revolution shifting the distributor switch through an angle of 45 as previouslyexplained. Thus, with the carriage positioned at any particular point along the track all fourof the welding guns 96 may be brought into engagement with the work and welding current distributed to'the individual guns in sequence through the operation of the distributing switch I48. As soon at a secondary connection is madetoa gun, the gun maybe fired, that is welding current caused to flow therethrough, to effect the weld and thereafter the secondary may be shifted to another gun and that one fired likewise. Firingis simplified by providing a timer control switch 196' (see Fig. 4) immediately behind the handle I95 of crank I95, and providing the handle with a push pin 19? adapted when aligned with switch I96 by proper positioning of crank I95 to operate the timer switch. After each of the four welding guns 136 have effected a weld, the welding electrodes of the guns may be'retracted away from the work, the carriage moved along the track a prescribed distance, and the operation repeated. At this point it may be preferable to describe the source of fluid pressure employed toengage the welding electrodes under pressure. For this purpose located on the top of the carriage is a motor driven fluid compressor 300 adapted to draw fluid from a reservoir 302 located therebelow through a suction line 304. Through a pressure regulating valve 3'06 and an over pressure return pipe 3% a source of suitable pressure is provided in the pipeline 3H1, which pipe line extends to a control valve 3l4. From the control valve fluid pressure is delivered to the welding guns 95, all of which are connected in parallel. The control valve 314 is adapted to supply fluid pressure to the gunsor permit the fluid pressure to exhaust fromthe guns into the reservoir 302.

As has been previously described, before the final assembly which is effected by the welding guns96, apair of subassemblies "composed of the topand bottom channel members '38 and 40 and their reinforcing channel members-42 and 44 are fabricated. During such procedure a channel member and its reinforcing channel are held in the work support arms 35 in the manner as indicated in Figure 9 and initially a plurality of welds are effected at spaced intervals along the center lineof the channel as indicated at 46.

The welding gun employed for'this purpose is the previously described gun 230 supported from the scaffolding 238 by a spring counterbalance 232 and through'a trolley 234 transversely movable upon the scafi'olding supported track 236.

The welding gun itself comprises a c frame 250 having a cylinder bore 252 in'one end and a welding electrode bracket 254 insulating'ly supported at the other end, the bracket carrying a welding electrode 255 substantially axially aligned with. the cylinder bore 252. The other welding electrode 253 is carried upon the end of the piston rod' 26!), the piston rod having a piston 262 reciprocable in the cylinder bore 252. Suitable stufling and guide bushings 26 1 are provided in the end of the cylinder bore 252 and insulating material 2% is provided between the piston rod and the welding electrode 258. Fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinder bore through a flexible conduit 26% secured to an aperture in the cylinder head Elli. Connections to the welding gun are made through the leads 212 and 214 and thence through flexible conductors (not shown) to the ends of bus bars 216 and 2H3, the latter being connected in parallel with the bus bars of one of the welding guns 9% as will be hereinafter described.

The angular disposed welds it and 553 are efiected through the guns 2% and 242, each supported upon the end of the side 'frames 10 and 12, .the side frame ill being extended to the left a'slightdistance so as to stagger the arrangemerit of theguns. The guns 24B and 242 being otherwise similar, a description of the gun 242 as more particularly illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 will suffice. On the end of each ofthe side frames 10 and 72 is provided an oblique transverse way 35?) upon which is adjustably mounted a bed plate 352 having a pair of spaced integral axially aligned cylindrical bearing brackets 35d and 35B. Reciprocably mounted within the bearing brackets is a fluid pressure cylinder 358 carrying a C-bracket 358 having at its outer end a welding electrode carrying bracket 352 with a welding electrode tip sea axially aligned with the cylinder. Reciprocably mounted within the fluid pressure cylinder is a piston 366 having a piston rod 368 extending out through the end of the cylinder through a bearing sleeve 31B and carrying on the end thereof a welding electrode 312. The bracket 352 and the welding electrode 312 are insulated from their respective G-bracket and piston rod so that the flow of welding current is restricted to the parts immediately adjacent the welding electrode tips. To key the cylinder 358 and the C-bracket 3% carried thereby from rotation within the cylindrical bearing brackets 354 and 355, an eccentric pin 32% is provided, the same extending parallel with the axis of the cylinder but outside thereof, the pin being rigidly secured to the C-bracket 36d and reciprocably received within a corresponding aperture 316 in an extension portion of the bracket 35 3. Thus, the cylinder 358 is permitted to reciprocate within the brackets 351i and 356 but restrained from rotating therein. The piston 366 is urged toward the head end of the cylinder 358 by a spring M8 arranged around the piston rod 368 and compressed between the underside oi the piston 358 and a shoulder 3% in the bore of the cylinder. The cylinder at its head end is provided with a cylinder head 382 through which fluid pressure .is admitted through the flexible connection 384 and the head structure is such as to provide a shoulder 386 adapted to bear against the bracket 354 to limit sliding movement therethrough in one direction. On the other hand, the piston rod 363 on the end to which the welding electrode 312 is secured is provided with a collar 388 adapted to bear against the bracket 3% to limit movement of the piston rod with respect to the bracket in one direction. The pressure of the spring M8 acting between the piston and the shoulder 330 within the cylinder tends to maintain the collar 388 of the piston rod in engagement with tl e bracket 356 and at the same time maintain the cylinder head structure and its shoulder 386 in engagement with the bracket 354 and thus establish the retracted positions of the welding electrodes 372 and 364. Thus, by suitably positioning the bed plate 352 upon the way 356 so as to center the electrodes with regard to the work, namely the channel member 46 and its reinforcing member 44, upon the application of fluid pressure to the cylinder and behind the piston the electrodes 364 and 312 may be moved into engagement with the work through a floating action of both parts. Electrical connections are 'made to the welding electrodes through connection brackets 396 and 392 and flexible conductors 394 and 396 leading to bus bars 398 and 466, connections from which lead to the distributing switch in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Connections to the welding guns 236, 246 and 242 are made to the distributor switch I48 through bus bars illustrated in end elevation in Figure 5. For example, the bus bars for the welding gun 236 are indicated at 216 and 218 as previously referred to, the bus bars extending longitudinally through the carriage as indicated in Figures 2 and 3 to two of the transverse bus bars 2|ZC and 2I4C leading to the distributor switch bus bars 268C and 2| 6C. In a similar fashion the angle gun 246 illustrated in Figure 5 on the left is connected through bus bars 398 and 466 and longitudinally extending bus bars 462 and 464 to transverse bus bars 2I2B and 2I4B and in turn connected to the distributor switch bus bars 2683 and ZIOB. Likewise the angle gun 242 is connected to bus bars 466' and 408 which extend longitudinally through the carriage to transverse bus bars connecting with the distributor switch bus bars 268A and MBA.

Fluid pressure is delivered to the angle guns 246 and 242 and the gun 236 through fluid pressure lines so that the fluid pressure is controlled by the manual valve 3M, each of the lines, however, being provided with suitable valves MD, as in the line to the gun 230, and M2, as in the line leading to the two angle guns 246 and 242. Thus, by closing the valve M2 to the guns 96 and opening the valves M6 and M2 the distributor switch, while energizing in three of its positions any one of the bus bars to the angle guns or the gun 236 as well as to the bus bars to any one of three of the guns 96, A, B or C nevertheless since fluid pressure to close the contacts upon the work would only be applied through the fluid pressure lines controlled by the valves 4H] and M2, the guns 96 must remain with the electrodes spaced from the work as the work passes therethrough and hence no weld can be efiected thereby. If the valve 312 be opened and the valves 4! and M2 closed, then the distributor switch would be effective to distribute welding energy to any one of the four guns 96, A, B, C and D it appearing that the welding guns 236, 246 and 242 will be maintained with their welding contacts spaced apart and out of contact with the work. Thus, at will an operator may select which group of guns fluid pressure is to be distributed to and at will select the particular gun of the selected group to which welding current is to be delivered.

Previous reference has been made to the support for the work which in the present instance is adapted to hold the work rigidly in proper position while being operated upon. The work support consists primarily of a plurality of spaced upright supports 456 and at the upper end thereof a suitably shaped support pad 452 for receiving the channel shape of the bottom channel member 46, the particular structure being best illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. In operating upon the work through the welding guns 96, all the members of the finished beam are held in proper position through a clamping bridge associated with each support 456, the clamping bridge comprising arms 454 and 456 pivoted upon the base portion 458 of each upright support 456. One of the arms 456 is hingedly provided at the top thereof with a bridge member 466 which is adapted to be swung into horizontal position over the work and to be rigidly secured against a seat 462 at the extremity of the arm 454, a yoke 464 pivoted at 466 on the arm 454 being provided for this purpose.

The yoke is also provided with a toggle mechanism for clamping the bridge member 466 in tight engagement with the end of the support arm 454, which toggle mechanism comprises a short arm 468 pivoted on the extreme end of the arm 454, the short arm being provided with adjustable abutments 416 adapted to swing into engagement with the top surface 412 of the bridging member 466. A link 414 pivotally connected between the yoke 464 and the short arm 468 is adapted to take a substantially vertical position as indicated in Figure 7 when the yoke 464 is swung to a vertical position thereby acting as a toggle to urge the adjustable abutment 416 into tight engagement with the upper surface 412 of the bridging member 466.

The yoke 464 is provided with a stop 465 which is adapted to engage the edge of the link 414 when the adjustable abutment 416 is urged into engagement with the bridge 466, the stop 465 preferably being so arranged as to permit the yoke 464 to be swung slightly past dead center so that a locking action is effected. Thus, when in locked position the upper pivot 415 of the link 414 and the pivot 466 are on a line extending slightly to the left of the lower pivot 411 of the link 468. When the yoke 464 is swung to the release or dotted line position shown in Figure '7, it engages a stop 416 on the arm 454.

The bridge member 466 is provided with a tongue 46l which is received in a corresponding recess 418 in the end of the arm 454 so that when in clamped position the spacing between the arms 456 and 454 is rigidly fixed. Through the use of cheek plates 486 and 482 on the sides of the arms 454 and 456, accurate lateral positioning of the members to be welded with relation to one another is assured. Through the bracket-like projections 484 and 486 carried on the arms and the faces thereof engaging the channel members of the workpiece and the face 488 of the bridging member 466 and the end of the upright support 456, accurate vertical positioning of the parts is assured.

Since as the carriage traverses the length of the workpiece, interference would result from the various spaced supports and the welding guns,

provision is made for swinging the arms 454 and 456 out of the way of the welding carriage, this being accomplished through a pivotal connection of each of the arms 454 and 456 upon the transverse member 458 as at 496. Thus, as is indicated in Figure 1 and also in Figures 3 and 4. the arms may be readily swung to a substantially horizontal position away from the work so as to permit the carriage to traverse the work without such interference. The arms are provided in addition to the pivot 496 with a foot portion 492 adapted to be bolted to the top face 494 of the transverse member 458 through a pivoted eye bolt 496, the foot being slotted to receive the eye bolt and :to permit its .quickmovement out of the way upon loosening the not .498 thereon. Thus, as the welding carriage traverses the work, the arms l'and 45B of the particular supports adjacent the carriage may be quickly swung from the vertical position, to the horizontal position out of the way of the carriage by first releasing the bridge portion 465 and swinging the same beyond the position shown in dotted lines in Figure '7 and thereafter loosening the eye bolts and swinging the arms to horizontal position. As soon as the carriage has traversed the particular portion involved, the arms are again raised to vertical position, the eye bolts 496 swung into place and tightened and the bridge member iEil again placed across the tenor the work and clampedby swinging the yoke 4E4 into'vertical position. It will be seen that in treating long beams the presence of aplurality of supports fore and aft of the carriage would be sufilcient to hold the workpieces in proper assembled posi tion While one or more of the supports-areswung into the horizontal carriage clearing position. It will be noted that the upstandingsupports we do not interfere with the-mechanism of the carriage p and consequently may remain, in position and lend support from the underside as will appea from the illustrations.

Before the final assembly of the top and bottom channel members and the side channel members it is preferable to apply a reinforcing channel to each of the top and bottom'channel members and this is accomplished, as has been described. through the use of the :angle guns 24B and 2 52 as well as the suspended gun 236. the top and bottom channel members in position upon the support 450 during such operation, a toggle device is provided which is adapted to be positioned between the bridge'450 and the inside ofthe channel reinforcing member t2 as illu trated in Figures 9 and 10. The toggle device comprises expansible telescopic members disposable between the underside of the bridge 450 and the channelmember 42, a pair of toggle links 504 and 506 pivoted'tothe telescopic members and 502 being adapted to expand the telescopic members with considerable force. The lever 584 is provided with a handle 5% and a stop 5| I] which is adapted to engagethe side of the link 506 as at 5 after the-pivot 55?. between the links has passed the line of the pivotal centers 5M and 5H5 connecting the links iii land 586 with the'telescopic members 500 and It will .thus appeal-that a novel apparatus is provided for working upon elongated objects. In welding a beam, of the type described, it is merely necessary to position the carriage atone suitable point, operate the valve 314 to engage the group of guns S5 with the work, rotate thecrank 185, four times, while pressing the-button 1191'- between each revolution. Thereafter rotation of thecrank 88 thru a prescribedangle places the carriage at a new stage, at which the operationis repeated.

Power may be supplied-to the transformer I50 in any suitable manner. In the apparatus illustrated however, the conduit 520 is provided with power wires tapped as at 522 periodically and connected to convenient sockets 524, into which a plug on the end Of a short jumper leading to the transformer may be inserted.

Fast Welding accurately placed may be accomplished, producing structures having strength in accordance with specifications, by relatively unskilled operators.

Though only a single form of the invention To secure particularly applicable-tothe beam shown,is.il1ustrated and described theinventionis not limited thereto but may-be embodied in various forms asidesired; As-various changes in construction and. arrangement of parts may be made without separating from the spirit of the invention as will-be apparent tothose skilled in the art, reference Wi11 be had to the appended claim for a definition .of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is: v 1.- A weldingapparatus for effecting a plurality of. welds along the length of an elongated object, comprising a track, means for supportingan objectalong and-substantially parallel to saidtrack,

vacarriage adapted to travel upon said track having spaced sidewalls and a connecting top structure-adapted to form an inverted. U sectioned frame encompassinga portion of the length of anob- J'ect in said supporting means. a welding gun carried upon the inside of one of the wall structures and adapted to effect welds upon an object carried on said supporting means at a plurality of stages, and means for moving said carriage al'ongsaid track from stage to stage, said welding gun interfering with at least a portion of said supporting means, and means associated with said supporting means for temporaril removing the interfering portion of said supporting means vto a non-interfering position.

2. A weldingapparatus for eiiectin a'plurality of welds along the length of an elongated object comprising a track, means supporting an elongated object above, along and substantially parallel to said track, a carriage adapted to travel upon said track having spaced side walls and a connecting top structur adapted to forman inverted U sectioned frame encompassing a portion of the length of an elongated object, a welding gun carried upon the inside of one of the'wall structures and adapted to efiect welds upon an object carried on said supporting means, and meansfor movingsai'd carriage along said-track, said supporting means including a plurality of spaced upright supporting members, and cooperating object embracing members, said cooperating members positioning the elongated object with relation to the track and carriage and lying in the path of said welding gun and carriage, and means for moving the object embracing .members out of embracing position to a position opposite sides of the work, and another welding gun overhanging an end portion of the carriage andad ustable with its support laterally of the carriage and work as well as vertically thereof whereby said last mentioned gun may be moved into the general plane-of either side wall of the a: vehicle to be out of the way of the work.

4. A welding apparatus including a carriage for welding guns movable along guides, at work holder including an upstanding supporting member pivotally mounted adjacent a lower end portion thereof whereby said member may be swung down to a position out of the way of said carriage and its guns and be raised into operative position after movement of the carriage.

5. A welding apparatus including a carriage for welding guns movable along guides, a work holder including an upstanding supporting member pivotally mounted adjacent a lower end portion thereof whereby said member may be swung down to a position out of the way of said carriage and its guns and be raised into operative position after movement of the carriage, said pivotal supporting member of the work holder being located between said guides.

6. A welding apparatus for an elongated work piece and comprising a carriage movable along guides and said work piece and carrying welding guns for engagement with said work piece, a work holder located between said guides and including side members and a top adapted to clamp the Work between them, said top being removable from its position connecting the upper ends of the work holder side members to enable the weld- 'ing guns to have access to the work piece as the carriage is moved along its guides.

'7. A welding apparatus including an elongated work holder, guides between which the work holder is placed, a carriage movable along said guides, said carriage having sides and a top each spaced from the work holder and work, welding guns carried by said carriage, control means for engaging a plurality of said guns with the work, means for supplying welding current to the guns in sequence, said last mentioned means including a distributor having somewhat arcuate conductors and being located in spaced relation to the sides, work holder, and work, whereby the conductors are inductively separated from the holder, work, and carriage sides to minimize inductive losses therein.

8. A welding apparatus including an elongated work holder, guides between which the work holder is placed, a carriage movable along said guides, said carriage having sides and a top each spaced from the work holder and work, symmetrically positioned welding guns carried by said carriage, control means for engaging a plurality of said guns with the work,means for distributing welding current to the guns, and low resistance conductors of substantially uniform length intermediate said distributing means and guns.

9. A welding apparatus including an elongated work holder, guides between which the work holder is placed, a carriage movable along said guides, said carriage having sides and a top each spaced from the work holder and work, symmetrically positioned welding guns carried by said carriage, control means for engaging a plurality of said guns with the work, means for distributing welding current to the guns, and conductors having substantially uniform impedance between the said guns and distributing means.

10. The combination as stated in claim 9, with the conductors between the guns and distributing means being in close contiguity whereby the reactance of the gun circuit is diminished.

11. A welding apparatus including an elongated work holder, guides between which the work metrically positioned welding guns carried by said carriage, control means for engaging a plurality of said guns with the work, means for supplying welding current to the guns in sequence, said last mentioned means including a distributor having arcuate conductors located in spaced relation to the carriage top and sides, the work holder and work, whereby the conductors are inductively separated from the holder, work and carriage sides to minimize inductive losses therein.

12. A welding apparatus including a carriage for welding guns movable along guides, a work holder including a central stationary member and lateral and movable upstanding supporting members pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end portion thereof, whereby said movable members may be swung down to a position out of the way of said carriage and its guns and be raised into operative position after movement of said carriage.

13. A welding apparatus including a carriage for welding guns movable along guides, a work holder including a central stationary member and lateral movable members pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end portion thereof, and a top member pivotally mounted on one of said lateral members adapted to form a closure with the other lateral member, and means for clamping said top member in closed position above said stationary member.

1a. In a welding apparatus including a carriage for welding guns movable along guides, a work holder comprising a base element transversely positioned between said guides, a stationary support member positioned centrally on said base element, movable support members positioned on opposite sides of said stationary support member, said movable members being pivotally mounted adjacent their bases for movement to and from'said base, a top member pivotally connected to an end of one movable member and adapted to form a closure over the central support member in engagement with the other movable member, and means for clamping said top member in closure position whereby the work is fixedly held between the top member and stationary support.

15. A welding apparatus including a work holder, guides between which the work holder is spaced, a carriage movable along said guides, welding guns carried by said carriage, controlling means for engaging a plurality of said guns with the work, means for distributing welding current to the guns and conductors having substantially uniform impedance between said guns and dis tributor means.

16. A welding apparatus including a carriage for welding guns movable along guides, a work holder including an upstanding supporting member pivotally mounted adjacent an end portion thereof whereby said member may be moved to a position out of the way of said carriage and its guns and be moved into operative position after movement of the carriage.

WILLIAM A. W'EIGHTMAN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,559, 26. January 2 19th.

WILLIAM A. WEI GHTMAN Q It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In the grant, line 7, title of invention, for CENTER SILLS" read --WELDING APPARATUS-; and in the heading to the printed specification and drawings, for "CENTER SILL" read -WELDING APPARATUS--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the rec- 0rd of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this lhth day of November, A. D. 19%.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

